Improvement in the manufacture of safety-matches



L. OTTO P. MEYER, OF NEWTOVVN, CONNECTICUT.

' IMPROVEMENT as THE MANUFACTURE OF sAFETv-MArcHEs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 149,32d, dated A rll 7, 1874; application filed March-20, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, L. Orro P. MEYER, of Newtown, in the county of Fairiield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain Improvements in the Composition of Safety- Matches, of .whieh the following is a specification:

My said improvements relate to the safetymatch originally patented by I. W. Hjcrpe. Hjerpe did not make his paste suitable otherwise, but for sticks previously dipped in sulphur, and sulphur is objectionable as ingredient for matches, the most objectionable for chlorate matches. Hjerpes paste contains chlorate of potassa and bichromate of potassa. Bic-hromatmin saidconibina'tion and in Hjerp:s specified proportions, behaves similarly objectionable as sulphur. By its omission Hjerpes match is rendered not ignitible on the special igniting-surface. (Nevertheless Hjerpes match may be esteemed far superior to any other sulphur-dipped match.) By an error chromate of potassa is mentioned in Hjerpes specification of patent, and I am authorized to state that the simple chromate is not found serviceable for his paste. My said improvements relate the most to the safety-match already patented by me; and consist in certain modifications of its manufacture, as found best suitable, since obtainin g improved surfaces for igniting my matches. The object of said modifications is to improve the paste for the process of drying, so that, with greater certainty, the paste-points properly shrink and become firm and hard, not porous nor bulky, and suitable for dipping in highly heated wax. Said object I obtain, partly, by preparing my paste with acetic acid and alcohol, but more fully or better by acetic acid mixed, with a little acetate of iron.

Matches made by my modified manufacture have stood the test of timealready over a year-and the following is a description of their quality: First, my matches ignite by no friction, but on a special prepared surface, by a hard or very quick stroke. Adults, after a little practice, ignite my matches easily on short igniting-surfacesmore easily the more long the igniting-surface. In the hands of little children, my marches are harmless. Secondly, my matchesdo not igniteif violently rubbed together; or if stepped upon; nor by rolling them under feet; nor by a heat below 450 or 500 Fahrenheit. They stand a heat high enough to char them black withpfut igniting. Thirdly,'my matches and their igniting surfaces contain no elements for spontaneous combustion. The igniting-surface is not inflammable. Fourthly, as ignitingsurface, (which m ans a special-prepared surface for igniting my matches,) Hjerpes painted i gnitin g-surface may serve but my surfaces, made of vulcanized india-rubber compound, are of better service.

hot water, and may serve for years. l ifthly,

my matches are free from phosphorus, sulphur,

or poison. The match-paste is healthy to eat, at least harmless, especially if containing pumice, and no emery or flint. Sixthly, the ignition of my match produces no offensive explosive noise, nor sparks flying. The match'burns without any smoke, without odor, and without adulteratin g the air, if the sticks are of suitable wood. Seventh, my matches, at the last stage of manufacture, are dipped in highly-heated parafline-wax, so as to soak the sticks and to coat the paste-points, thereby increasing their resistance to humidity, as facilitating ignition of the sticks. Some of my' matches-of two and a half inches in length-are prepared to burn about three minutes, if the burning-point is pointed upward. Eighthly, the residue of the burned match-points wheneyer the flame is extinguished, is not red-hoteoal, nor glassy slack, but a dust, harmless in every respect. Ninthly, the manufacture of my match is sim ple, and offers no unhealthy labor to employs. Tenthly, the cost of using my match is reduced by dispensing with the small wooden or paper boxes with painted igniting-surfaces, and by the use of m y rubber-surfaces.

In the following tables, I and II, I give the ingredients and their proportions, by which is obtained the best results:

TABLE I.

' No. 1. No. 2.

Ma'eh-paste: E Pure strong gelatine. parts by weight. 24 22 Ground pumice or emery flour 16 18 Chlorate ofpotissa 6O 60 p 100 100 Acetic acid, No. 8 71 65 L!q. acet. sesquioxide or} rotoxide iron 1% t 172 166% Loss by evaporation, about 204} 181} Weight when ready for dipping 152 I 148 TABLE II.

N o. 3. N 0. 4. Matchpaste Pure strong gelatine parts by wei ht 18 18 Ground pumice or fliht 30 29,; Chlorate of potassa 52 52 Red iron oxide g 10 0 100 Rain-water 36 3G Acetic acid, No. 8 6 6 Alcohol 6 6 148 14s Loss by evaporation, about 13 13 Weight when ready for dipping 135 135 Rain-water may be added to any of my pastes, if reduced too much by evaporation.

The following table, III, and their proportions for Hjerpes paste, as modified by me, so as to be suitable for waxdippin This paste contains bichromate of potassa, which is somewhat poisonous to handle. The small proportion of bichromate may be harmless; still, this paste is inferior in quality to my pastes, given in above two tables, especially the test of time.

TABLE III,

No. 0 No.6

Match-paste Gum-arabio, parts by weight 20. 00 Gelatine 19 Bichromate of potassa. 6. 66 6 Chlorate of potassa 53. 34 56 Emory flour 20.00 19 it?) 100 Rain-water 25 57 Wu 'ht when ready for dipping 125 157 The natu al color of my pastes, Nos. 1, 2, and 3, if not containing emery, is white or cream color. The paste Nos. 1 and 2 is readily changed into other fine tints. They contain peroxide of iron, (it but protoxide was gives ingredients 1&9324.

added, it partly changes into peroxide and yellow prnssiate of potassa produces therein a green or blue color; but the red prussiatc colors when protoxideis present. One grain of said prussiates to one pound of paste produces a light-green tint; double or triple said portion of prussiate produces light-blue or darkblue tint. Paste N 0. 4 is pink-colored.

I require pure ingredients; the chlorate oi potassa to be free from chloride of potassium. If not pure, may be purified by dissolving in pure water and recrystallization. The selected whitepumice in large lumps is preferable. Sm all traces of peroxide of iron, (yellow streaks) sometimes foundin pumice, do no harm. Traces of peroxide or protoxide of iron,found in acetic acid, are not injurious. The emery from Vellington mill, London, appears preferable to others still, pumice is preferable to emery and Hi nt. The common glue often contains chlorine and other impurities to be avoided, and I employ prussian-white, strong gclatine, or I. 85 G. Coxs London gelatine. The para-dine wax is wanted very pure. Its congealing-point may be at 115 Fahrenheit, or as high as obtaina ble. The preferred quality of wood for matchsticksis hereinafter described.

The mode of preparing my pastes: For pastes Nos 1 and 2, I dissolve the gclatine in the acetic acid and liquid acetate, either at common warm temperature or at moderate pastes Nos. 3 and 4, I dissolve the gclatine first in the water and acetic acid before adding alcohol and other ingredients. I employ, for preparing, mixing, and grinding of paste, utensils not decomposed by acetic acid, such as Wedgwood or porcelain. I grind the pastes at a temperature rangin from 75 to 00 Fahrenheit, but heat somewhat higher answers as well. The pastes Nos. 1 and 2 have a' strong vinegar odor at commencement of mixing and grinding, and for these in particular I have constructed a simple mill, consisting of a mortar attached on a vcrtieally-revolving shaft. Its pestle, somewhat larger size than for the size of mortar, is held stationary in a slanting position by a stout cross-head, which can slightly yield to pressure by means of some springs.

My mode of preparing match-sticks: I prefer whitcwood for sticks. The whitewood is first prepared in hot water and steam, and then cut, witha kniic-machine, into thin sheets of one-tenth to one-twelfth of an inch thicklOSS; and then, in another ki'iife-machinc, I s aple a number of said thin sheets on top of each other, and each down stroke of the knife cuts a number of small square sticks, which are afterward cut into lengths of four and ot' a single match, and then dried at a high heat. The steaming ol' the wood and drying heat, and then add the other ingredients. For

thrce-folr'ths to five inches, the double length at high heat improves thc( 1uality of the sticks for the contact with match paste, and for burnin g without odor or smoke.

Preparatory to dipping witn paste: \Vooden dipping -boards,. or dippers, are not suitable for my improved manufacture, and I have constructed my dippers out of steel plates of onesixteenths of an inch thick. Three plates are tlatwise arranged, so that the whole thickness of the dipper is threesixteenths of an inch. Each dipper is perforated with small holes,

just large enough to allow match-sticks easily to drop through. The middle steel plate is movable. For the process of filling, I adjust the dipper in a horizontal press, its surfaces horizontally, its holes open clear through, and so that the sticks can drop through only to about half of their length. I place ablock,with holes corresponding to those in the dipper, on top of the dipper. This block is to guide the sticks to a proper straight position. After having passed match-sticks over the surface of said top block till all holes are filled, I tighteen the sticks in their places by the middle steel plate, screwing it forward by means of the press, and securing it by wedges horizontally put in. I remove the top block before taking the dipper from OK the press. One surface of the steel dipper is smooth, and, if

filled, has nothing but sticks projecting, so

that at the last stage of the manufacture a knife sliding along its smooth surface can cut the match-sticks into single length.

My mode of dipping with paste: My dippingpans are of porcelain or lined with glass. I dip my pastes at a temperature as employed for grinding, the sticks of at least the same heat, and I allow the points first dipped somewhat to dry, just enough to keep shape, before turning them over for dipping the opposite points. I

My mode of drying my matches: I dry the matches newly dipped with paste first at a moderate heat or common warm temperature for a few hours, an afterwards employ heat, graduallyrising to about 200 to 300 Fahrenheit, till perfectly dry My mode of (wax-d1 pping match-points: I melt paratfine wax in two pans in close proximity. In one pan I heat the wax .to about 220 Fahrenheit, and in the other only to about 8 to 10 above its eongealing-point.

The dried matches, still in steel dippers, l dip first in the highly-heated wax about onefourth of an inch deep, and let them stand in it for about one to three minutes, and then withdraw them slowly, and dip them directly onefourth of an inch deep in the less-heated wax for about onefourth minute, an d then withdraw them slowly, allowing at least one-half minute for the wax on the sticks to congeal before turning them over and dipping the opposite ends in similar manner. The highlyheatcd wax drives out and replaces air. The less heated sets a suitable coat. Sticks of Very porous wood, of if highly heated, need but short time for said first dip in wax. Such matches as are required to burn a great length of time, with inflamed point upward,.I dip a little deeper in wax.

I have also obtained somewhat good results, but less perfect wax-coating, by the mode of cutting the matches into single length, and tying them together into bundles preparatory to the processes of drying at high heat and of wax-dipping.

I will not be understood to say that my matches cannot possibly ignite on common surfaces. They may possibly ignite on highlyheated surfaces, or on some sulphurcts, or on surfaces where rubbing of phosphorus matches has deposited phosphor; but in such cases either very high heat or exceedingly hard frietion must aid, and which detracts not the least from the good quality of my'matches. The pastes No. 5 and 0 I do not call my pastes, although they have been modified by me.

Definition ofmy invention: The withindescribed manufacture varies from the specifications of my former patents. All the modifications are invented by me, but I consider them in the scope of my former patents, except my present claim.

What I claim as my intention in the preparation of safety-matches is The employment of acetates of iron or of alchohol, in combination with certain ingredients, substantially as herein described.

L. OTTO I. MEYER.

Witnesses:

EDGAR F. HA-WLEY, HENRY SANFORD. 7 

